Instead of the five points they had hoped for after their game against Hereford Burton travelled home with a solitary losing bonus point and a red card for their skipper Josh Cartwright and saw their chances of gaining promotion this season slipping away as the three teams above them, Lichfield, Worcester Wanderers and Halesonians, increased the gap between themselves and Burton by another four more points.

Burton’s Sam Smith kicked-off to start the game and after several phases of good play soon registered the first points of the match as a break by Lewis Brooks saw him pass to Lawrence Betty. He in turn off- loaded to Dan Smith who raced in for a try, but unfortunately Matt Boden’s conversion attempt missed its target leaving Burton leading 0-5 after just two minutes play.

Hereford stormed back on the attack but poor handling spoilt much of their good work, while the defensive efforts of Luke Peach, Kelvin Browne and Jon Edwards thwarted any further progress by them. In particularly the efforts of Keifer Laxton and Edwards saw Burton gradually gaining control and domination around the loose play. Burton were trying to get pace into the game despite the conditions and a backrow move saw Browne break clear only for Burton to knock-on as the line beckoned.

A clearance by Hereford saw a lineout on halfway and Cartwright took a massive leap to take the ball and Burton’s pack surged forward with a great rolling maul that took play deep into home territory, but despite gaining ground Burton saw Laxton leave the field with a blood injury to be replaced by Jason Knight. Then some direct running by firstly Ken Archer and then Cartwright to play to within yards of the Hereford line and in stopping this Hereford’s flanker was yellow carded for repeat infringing.

At this point Peach also left the field with a knee injury to be replaced by Ian Gilmour as Hereford attacked the Burton line with a driving maul and, despite seemly being in control, Burton were penalised for offside. The Hereford’s kicker made no mistake with his kick and Burton’s lead was reduced to 3-5 with ten minutes of the half remaining. From the restart Burton stormed back up field with Charl Neethling leading the way and some dominant scrimmaging saw Jason Knight break away and set up a move that saw Betty feed Brooks, who was stopped just inches short of the line. But Hereford were deemed guilty of handling in the ensuing ruck and so Brooks steeped up to put the ball between the uprights with his penalty kick and Burton led 3-8 as the half-time whistle sounded.

Burton started the second half as they finished the first with two great driving mauls that were only halted by Hereford’s blatant illegal tactics. Then the Burton back-row combined to take play up field after another solid Burton scrum produced quality ball for them to exploit with scrum half Danny Campbell. Two tell-tale breaks by Brooks saw Burton get deep into home territory, but good defensive work by the Hereford backs saw the ball turned over and they counter attacked from deep and kicked into the Burton half.

Hereford stole the lineout and surged forward with their back-row leading the charge and in his efforts to stop the surge Neethling was adjudged to have high-tackled the man and Hereford again accepted the three points on offer to reduce Burton’s lead to 6-8 with thirty minutes to play.

Burton continued to try and play an expansive game and the backs looked dangerous whenever they got the ball but the elusive score just failed to materialise even after Jon Edwards had mesmerised everyone with a great side-step. But Hereford also had their moments and only a try saving tackle by Boden stopped a certain try whilst the Burton defensive line also put in some great work to keep the hosts at bay. But in the next two minutes lighting struck twice as first Hereford moved the ball out wide to score a converted try and then not for the first time in the game the referee decided against Burton as he red carded only Josh Cartwright following a mini brawl involving several players.

So now being a man down and trailing 13-8 Burton had it all to do and only fifteen minutes to do it in and try they certainly did as wave after wave of Burton attacks were either stopped by great defence or at times obscure decisions. For the rest of the game Burton did their best to score the try that they so desperately needed and deserved but it was not to be and after a half lasting nearly fifty minutes they left the field bemused at why their efforts had not been rewarded.